Archive for July, 2008

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Catasauqua OKs plan to revitalize

Catasauqua Borough Council has approved a plan to revitalize the downtown. The plan recommends making extensive aesthetic improvements, creating a civic plaza and changing a major street from one-way to two-way. The plan recommends about $1.3 million of streetscape improvements for the downtown commercial core, ”the vicinity of Front, Pine, Bridge and Church streets.”   [...]

20Jul2008 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Emmaus cements second sidewalk ordinance

More than 100 residents could be forced to shell out thousands to install sidewalks under an ordinance approved Monday (7/7/08) by Emmaus Borough Council. The ordinance affects about 105 residences along Dalton Street, State Avenue and Keystone Avenue who will be told to install sidewalks by Nov. 1, 2010, unless granted an exemption. The sidewalks [...]

20Jul2008 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Lehigh Valley Home Sales June 2008

Comparison of Activity from June 2007 to June 2008: Number of Sales – During June 2008, 550 sales were reported, down approximately 29.3% from June 2007 at 778. Average Sales Price – The average sales price for June 2008 was recorded at $234,000, down approximately 0.85% from June 2007 when the average sales price of [...]

20Jul2008 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Bethlehem planners OK supermarket

The Bethlehem Planning Commission has approved plans for a supermarket on Eighth Avenue and a software development manufacturing plant on former Bethlehem Steel land.    PriceRite supermarket will be the last piece of redevelopment for the old Durkee spice plant near the Eighth Avenue interchange of Route 378. The 35,000-square-foot chain grocery could open as soon [...]

20Jul2008 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Easton Terrace plan gets OK

Easton’s Planning Commission gave preliminary approval during a special meeting Wednesday night for the Easton Housing authority’s estimated $73 million project.  The authority will raze 250 apartments and build 144 units — single family homes, townhouses, twins, duplexes and cottages for senior citizens. Forty-eight of the new units are designated for sale and the rest [...]

20Jul2008 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Wal-Mart complex on 309 OK’d

A plan for a Wal-Mart and four other stores in Schnecksville was approved Wednesday by North Whitehall township supervisors on the condition the developer first check for chemical contamination on the site.  Supervisors voted unanimously affirming that Wal-Mart Stores East, owner of the 40-acre site along Route 309, could use the land for a planned [...]

20Jul2008 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Real Estate transfer tax revenue down

In a recent Morning Call letter to the editor, LVAR (Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors) expressed  frustration with government officials continued reliance on the real estate transfer tax (PA recieve 2% on every Lehigh Valley Real Estate Transaction, buyer and seller each pay 1%).  Municipalities that were once booming with residential development are seeing the effects [...]

20Jul2008 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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U.S. Senate Passes Housing Stimulus Bill

The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan mortgage rescue bill last Friday that allows the Federal Housing Administration to refinance troubled mortgages – even those that are under water – as long as banks agree to take a loss. The program would allow the FHA to help as many as 400,000 home owners. Now the bill [...]

20Jul2008 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Rendell vetoes spot assessments bills

The victory for REALTOR® and real estate consumers was short lived as Governor Ed Rendell vetoed legislation aimed at protecting consumers from spot reassessments.  Despite the overwhelming bipartisan support in both houses of the legislature.  LVAR (Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors) issued a press release expressing our disappointment with the Governor’s decision.  LVAR will continue [...]

20Jul2008 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Do You Have A Buyers Agent?

What is a buyers agent? why do I need to have one? and how do I get one? These are the questions you need to ask yourself if are looking to purchase real estate here in the Lehigh Valley. The first time you meet with an agent, even if its looking at a property, they should [...]

13Jul2008 | admin | 0 comments | Continued